After the situation between Toro Rosso and Scott Speed blew up at the recent European Grand Prix, speculation has been strong that the American driver had contested his final event for the team and now, the BMW Sauber F1 Team has announced that they are allowing their current third driver, Sebastian Vettel to take the step into a Formula One cockpit with the 20-year-old from Heppenheim being released to move to Toro Rosso with immediate effect.  

“As our test and reserve driver Sebastian has carried out sterling work for us. When he stood in for Robert Kubica in the USA Grand Prix he made history by becoming the youngest debutant to earn a world championship point. However, the current testing rules mean that he barely gets a chance to drive for us. Now he has been offered the opportunity to get inside a Toro Rosso cockpit. We have sponsored and coached Sebastian over a number of years. To place obstacles in his career path now would go against our concept of talent promotion,” BMW’s Theissen said “BMW and Red Bull have a longstanding partnership in supporting Sebastian. Toro Rosso is the sister team of Red Bull Racing, and in that context it makes sense for us to release him. In a sponsoring partnership the main thing is to use the best opportunities that present themselves to a young driver at any given time.”  

Taking over the role of reserve driver for the BMW Sauber F1 Team will be Timo Glock, who is currently a test driver. The 25-year-old from Brensbach- Wersau is championship leader in the GP2 Series and would forgo a GP2 race should he have to step into the breach for the BMW Sauber F1 Team.

Having joined the Red Bull Junior Team in his early karting years at the age of 12 and been guided by them and BMW through his Formula BMW and Formula 3 career, Toro Rosso are now thrilled to welcome Sebastian back to the Red Bull family.